MUSIC 256A
Mollie Redman
For most of chapter two, it talks about the joy of making and listening to music, but the rise of our cellular devices have gotten in the way of that. The idea of Ubiquitous Technology is introduced, somewhat casually and only for one page. However, this was a term I had never heard of before and its description made my stomach lurch. “The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it." (page 64) Disappear. Indistinguishable. Something that is invisible and impossible to spot. It makes it sound like ubiquitous tech is a ghost forever haunting me in my home. If I am unable to perceive it, how will I know that I am using it? I will likely go mad trying to parse out what is human and what is not. Putting myself in the shoes of someone in 1991, I imagine Weiser was referring to the ease in which technology can be accessed. Being able to send an email from the top of the mountain, to check the house security cameras while on vacation, or to stream a football game while in a delivery room probably all seemed like far off dreams. Reading this quote today, when all of these modern conveniences are already available to us, feels darker. Another part of Ubiquitous Tech is that it “recedes into the background”. Typically, something that recedes feels more removed. However, that is not the case with modern day technology. In actuality, receding tech envelopes us until we become blind to the fact that it is covering us up to our necks. To me this reality sounds anything but “calm”. Reading the description of Ubiquitous Technology, I asked myself, “Do I want these things? Do I want technology to become part of my consciousness?” It made me think about how humans navigate. Always having our portable GPS computers is extremely helpful when going to a new place, but personally, I feel like it has impacted my ability to navigate. When I do not rely on my device, sure I make a few mistakes, but I always end up with a better sense of my surroundings. Technology is not wired the way human brains are and I think we often forget that. If technology does not support the strengths of our natural brain pathways then why would we want it to enter our consciousness? Is our fear of not being on time really that bad? No, I don’t think so. Will we never make it home? Society is typically helpful. Is the morality of society crumbling? Maybe. Do we fear being wrong? 100% (I do). Have we lost the joy in the journey? The movie Cars is a great case study on this. Do we really want fewer human interactions?………….What is even our purpose on Earth?